A BURGLAR has been found guilty of breaking into retirement flats where he was floored by two pensioners - an ex-copper and a Judo expert.

Joe Osborne and Don Davies have told a jury they restrained a burglar (Image: Plymouth Live / SWNS)

Peter Smith, 51, broke into the flats and started rifling through some drawers before being confronted by former policeman Don Davies, 79. The court heard Don then grabbed the hapless burglar by the arm and a tussle ensued before Smith broke free and legged it - so Don roused judo expert Joe Osborne, 76. Mr Osborne then chased Smith down five flights of stairs before performing one of his signature tackles, throwing him to the floor during the incident in Plymouth, Devon.

Smith insisted he tried to hide in the building, going to a flat on the fifth floor and hiding in a bedroom.

However, during the trial Mr Davies told the jury how he remonstrated with Smith when he caught him rifling through his bedside cabinet drawers.

The heroic pensioners put him on the ground and held him firmly in place until police arrived, the court was told.

The jury heard how during interview Smith claimed he had been "booted up and down the f***ing stairs" by the elderly men and accused Mr Davies of being "a lying b*****d".

Peter Smith, 51, broke into the flats and started rifling through some drawers (Image: Getty Images)

Smith told police he did not run off, but merely "walked off", but the pensioners then "kicked the f*** out of me".

The interviewing officer asked Smith to confirm that he was "beaten and kicked by three pensioners" to which he replied "yes".

"Aged 75, 74 and 76?" asked the officer.

Smith denied he bit Mr Osborne on the chest and denied spitting on one of the men holding him in place, saying he only asked them to loosen their hold on him as it hurt.

The heroic pensioners put him on the ground and held him firmly in place until police arrived (Image: Plymouth Live / SWNS )

Smith told the officers: "If you think I'm lying about that you're f*****g mistaken" before denying he had every spat on anyone.

A number of gold jewellery items which had gone missing from one of the flats in the retirement block were later found in his sock when he was strip searched in the custody suite.

Police described Smith as a "volatile" man who repeatedly "threatened to spit" at officers in the custody suite.

He said Smith had to be restrained by officers and placed in a cell where he underwent a strip search, resulting in the discovery of the jewellery in his sock.

The incident took place in Plymouth, Devon (Image: Getty Images)

After Smith was found guilty of all charges, Judge Paul Darlow told the jury that Smith - being held on remand at Exeter prison - had refused to attend court and so had been tried in his absence.

The jury were told Smith - who has 59 convictions from 133 offences - initially claimed he was ill and after being checked over by medical staff and found to be fit for trial, went on to refuse to be represented by his appointed barrister.

He then made it clear he would not attend the trial and was deemed "wilfully absent".

Judge Darlow said he would sentence Smith on date to be set, ensuring that he was first brought to court.